FOUR police officers who saved the life of a fellow bobby have been recognised for their quick-thinking and heroism.

Sgt Nick Davies, retired inspector Tony Lambert and constables Chris Hall and Ken Fricker, all from Hinckley station, were awarded the Chief Constable’s Commendation at a ceremony this week.

They received the accolade after coming to the aid of fellow officer PC Mike Smith in November last year after he collapsed in Hinckley town centre. They gave him CPR until the ambulance arrived and Mike had to be shocked back to life three times before eventually being taken to George Eliot Hospital with a suspected heart attack.

And Mike said he would be forever grateful to his colleagues: “If it wasn’t for these lads I wouldn’t be here. It just proves that the training and professionalism works, and the team works. We are all the same shift and I can only say thanks to them.

“At the time I knew nothing about it but they knew what they were doing and on behalf of my family I would like to say thank you as they got me back.”

PS Davies said: “From a sergeant’s point of view it was hard not to pull my officers off and carry on doing it myself. I had to allow those who were trained first aiders to carry on.

“It was hard to stand back as he is my officer and I wanted to make sure he got back alive. It is important to say that one person isn’t here and that is the paramedic.

“Their calm professionalism was what actually kept Mike alive, we kept it going a little bit but it was them who kept it going.”

PC Fricker added: “I took Mike’s head to make sure he was breathing and when people talk about the life going out of people’s eyes, you could just see that and for that brief second it is horrible and you think ‘I don’t want to be doing this’.

“It just seemed so long and it felt like a lifetime. It wasn’t easy and seemed forever but he is still here and that’s the best thing.”